HYDERABAD, Jan 28: Short story writer, columnist and intellectual Amar Jaleel has said that a writer is like a mirror who reflects shortcomings and flaws in a society through his writings to help common man understand them easily.

Delivering a lecture on “literature and politics”, one of a series of Prof Mohram Khan memorial lectures, organised by the Department of Sindhi of the University of Sindh, Mr Jaleel said that it was not possible for a writer to accompany politicians with flags and raise slogans. But he could play the role of a guide and highlight society’s problems, he said.

He said that literature has a very vast area and every writer has his own way of expression. History can deny facts but literature will always bring them to fore, he remarked. He said that literature depicts a correct picture in light of social, political and cultural perspective. Writers should cultivate tolerance and respond through writings with the help of arguments instead of verbal criticism in case he is replying to criticism, he said.

He said that youths should learn from history and read literature to develop higher thinking.

Mr Jaleel advised students to take advantage of information technology, otherwise, they would be big losers and praised literary works of Haleem Brohi. Criticism of Haleem’s work was baseless, he stressed.

He proposed the university confer posthumous honorary doctorate degree on Molai Sheedai in recognition of his research work on history.

Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, who presided over the function, said that politics is a very important part of literature, which has its own way of explaining issues. Amar Jaleel has his individual style of writing and expressing views, he said.

Faculty of Arts Dean Dr M. Qasim Bughio, head of Sindhi Department Dr Noor Afroze Khwaja, Prof Azad Kazi, Dr Hyder Sindhi and Dr Hidayat Akhund also spoke.